A new recording, a journey through the Renaissance, and a sparkling contemporary oratorio highlight Conspirare’s season under the direction of artistic director Craig Hella Johnson.

Sing Freedom: African American Spirituals

Join Conspirare for an in-depth encounter with the African American spiritual. Among the most essential American music, spirituals are dramatic, powerful, and often profoundly beautiful. The spiritual is a foundational genre for so much modern American music, and Conspirare will demonstrate its full range of color and expression and how completely it speaks to the universal human condition.

In addition to the live performances, Conspirare will continue its successful partnership with distinguished label Harmonia Mundi by recording the spirituals program at Goshen College’s acoustically renowned Sauder Hall for a CD scheduled for release in 2011.

Fri., Oct. 1, 2010, 8:00PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Sat., Oct. 2, 2010, 8:00PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Sun., Oct. 3, 2010, 3:00PM, Austin, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

ALSO in Georgetown at Klett Performing Arts Center, Thu., Sept. 30, 2010 (presented by the Georgetown Performing Arts Alliance; tickets through the Georgetown Symphony Society, 512-864-9591)

ALSO in Goshen, Indiana, at Goshen College Sauder Hall, Tue., Oct. 5, 2010

Christmas at the Carillon (with Patrice Pike)

Conspirare’s popular holiday concert features guest vocalist Patrice Pike, whose heartfelt performances in last year’s “Carillon” series brought cheering audiences to their feet. Craig Hella Johnson and the professional voices of Conspirare again weave diverse musical threads – sacred and secular, classical and pop, old and new – into one seamless whole. An Austin tradition, “Christmas at the Carillon” always sells out early.

Fri., Dec. 3, 2010, 7:00PM, San Antonio, Laurel Heights Methodist Church
Sat., Dec. 4, 2010, 2:30PM and 8:00PM, Austin, The Carillon
Sun., Dec. 5, 2010, 2:30PM and 8:00PM, Austin, The Carillon
Mon., Dec. 6, 2010, 8:00PM, Austin, The Long Center. Carillon Gala begins at 6:00PM.

ALSO in Victoria at First United Methodist Church, Thu., Dec. 2, 2010, 7:30PM (tickets through the Victoria Bach Festival, 361-570-5788)

Renaissance and Response: Polyphony Then and Now

A dramatic concert series over a single weekend explores the riches of Renaissance polyphony (“many voices”) and its enduring influences. The series comprises four distinct programs featuring works by Josquin, Lassus, Victoria, and Bach.

Each concert will also feature a world premiere composition by series composer-in-residence Robert Kyr, written in response to the early masters. Mr. Kyr will also be presenting pre-concert talks for three of the performances (free to ticket holders). Concert-goers can choose individual programs or purchase a special package.

EARLY VOICES - Fri., Jan. 21, 2011, 8:00PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (pre-concert talk by Robert Kyr at 7:00PM)
DEFINING MASTERY – Sat., Jan. 22, 2011, 4:00PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (pre-concert talk by Robert Kyr at 3:00PM)
A FLOWERING IN SPAIN – Sat., Jan. 22, 2011, 8:00PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
AND THEN CAME BACH – Sun., Jan. 23, 2011, 3:00PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (pre-concert talk by Robert Kyr at 2:00PM)

Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina ‘Pro Pace’ (For Peace)

The season closes with a choral-orchestral spectacular, the Austin premiere of Puerto Rican composer Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina ‘For Peace’. Acclaimed soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and baritone Nathaniel Webster, featured on the recording of this buoyant work, will appear with a performing force of nearly two hundred musicians from Conspirare, the Victoria Bach Festival, and the Texas State Chorale under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson.

Commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C., Missa Latina was hailed after its premiere as “the most significant symphonic premiere in [D.C.] since Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.” Another reviewer said: “I can’t imagine anyone who starts listening to Missa Latina wanting to [stop] before it is over.” Missa Latina received a 2009 Grammy^® nomination for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

Sun., Jun. 12, 2011, 7:00PM, Austin, The Long Center

ALSO in Victoria at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Sat., Jun. 11, 2011, 7:30PM (tickets through the Victoria Bach Festival, 361-570-5788)

Conspirare Special Events

THE CARILLON GALA
Mingle with friends, gaze at sparkling city lights, and launch your holiday season with Conspirare! Enjoy a pre-concert reception, seated dinner, and post-concert dessert and champagne after-party with the artists. Admission to the after-party only is also available. For more information about the Gala, please call Conspirare at 512-476-5775.

Mon, Dec. 6, 2010, 6:00PM, Austin, Kodosky Donor Lounge, The Long Center

HIDDEN MUSIC VI
Conspirare’s annual spring fundraiser, featuring intimate performances by Craig Hella Johnson and friends, is eagerly awaited by Conspirare fans. Mark your calendar now for the sixth annual “Hidden Music,” and look for details in early 2011.

Tues., May 3, 2011, 6:00PM, Austin, University of Texas Alumni Center

Conspirare Youth Choirs Concerts

Conspirare’s youngest singers perform in two delightful concerts that showcase their joyful artistry. Both youth ensembles, Kantorei and Conspirare Children’s Choir, will appear in the holiday concert “Awaiting” and a spring series entitled “Voices of Joy.” The entire season will be dedicated to music from “across the pond” by composers and poets from England, Scotland, and Ireland.

AWAITING – Fri.-Sat., Dec. 10-11, 2010, 7:30PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church

VOICES OF JOY – Fri.-Sat., May 6-7, 2011, 7:30PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church

Big Sings

You too can sing with Conspirare! Conspirare brings back the Big Sing, the hugely popular event where the audience is the choir. Inaugurated last season to capacity crowds, the Big Sing offers the community an opportunity to lift their voices together. Conspirare’s artistic director Craig Hella Johnson leads each Big Sing in breathing exercises, vocal warm-ups, and simple songs. Admission is free and no reservation is required.

Thu., Nov. 11, 2010, 5:30PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Thu., Feb. 24, 2011, 5:30PM, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church

Carmina Burana

Enjoy Ballet Austin’s encore production, choreographed by Stephen Mills, of the ever-popular Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, a collaboration of the Conspirare Symphonic Choir, the Conspirare Youth Choirs, Ballet Austin, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra (tickets through the Ballet Austin Box Office at 512-476-2163 or www.balletaustin.org).

Fri., Sept. 24, 2010, 8:00PM, Austin, The Long Center
Sat., Sept. 25, 2010, 8:00PM, Austin, The Long Center
Sun., Sept. 26, 2010, 3:00PM, Austin, The Long Center